AirlinesAir France pilot unions call for new strike June 24-27Air France pilot unions SNPL, SPAF and ALTER announced late on June 17 they would strike again from June 24-27. They said the decision to go ahead with a new bout of action was made after a meeting with Air France management failed to reach any agreements. In a statement, the unions said they had put forward new compromise proposals, but the airline refused to make any decisions before the arrival of Air France-KLM’s new chairman and CEO Jean-Marc Janaillac. However, they added, the company wanted to press ahead with outstanding actions from its Transform 2015 turnaround plan immediately.
LinkAmerican Airlines to offer service to Cuba this fallAmerican Airlines plans to offer regular flights connecting the US and Cuban cities outside Havana beginning in September. American, along with United Continental Holdings, Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways, are among the airlines eager to win slots to Havana, though routes to Cuba's capital city have yet to be granted by the Department of Transportation.
LinkSecond Egyptair Flight Recorder RetrievedThe flight data recorder from EgyptAir flight MS804 has been retrieved, Egyptian investigators said on Friday. The Egyptian committee investigating last month's crash into the eastern Mediterranean Sea made the announcement a day after search teams found the cockpit voice recorder in a breakthrough for investigators.
LinkHawaiian rolls out amenity upgrade auction systemHawaiian Airlines is enabling passengers the choice of bidding on affordable First Class seats on flights from Hawaii and North America. Perks of First Class include priority check-in and lounge access.
LinkJetBlue connects Fort Lauderdale, San Diego with direct flightsJetBlue Airways now offers direct flights connecting Florida's Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and San Diego. The addition is significant for the Florida airport, which now boasts direct service to its top 50 US destinations.
LinkMartinair phases out MD-11FsDutch cargo specialist Martinair will end a more than two decades-long association with the MD-11F in July when it phases out the last two of its US-built tri-jet freighters. Until recently, Martinair had six of the type on strength. With the MD-11F’s departure, its fleet will consist of three Boeing 747-400ERFs and a single 747-400BCF.
LinkOman Air suspends Sohar servicesOman Air has “temporarily suspended” services to the Omani city of Sohar, citing a failure to achieve the necessary financial targets on services there. Sohar is located around 110 nm (200 km or 124 miles) to the northwest of the Omani capital, Muscat, where Oman Air has its main hub.
LinkPhilippine Airlines eyes new Davao hubFilipino flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is looking to establish a regional hub at Davao, Mindanao Island, Philippines to serve both Southeast Asian and Australasian destinations. PAL CEO Jaime Bautista said the airline would “definitely consider a hub,” at Davao’s Francisco Bangoy International Airport. Bautista said potential destinations for the carrier from Davao could include Singapore Changi, Malaysia’s KLIA2, Bali Denpasar and Australia as well as local destination Manado.
LinkSouthwest to update uniforms in 2017Next year, Southwest Airlines will roll out the first update to its uniforms since the 1990s. "We were just trying to go for something a little more bold and modern," said Southwest's Sonya Lacore.
LinkUnited ramps ups service connecting western US, New ZealandUnited Airlines is launching new service connecting San Francisco and Auckland, Australia, thrice weekly aboard new Boeing 787 Dreamliners. United's San Francisco hub will give travelers access to 40-plus US cities.
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